Hate crimes

Reporting a hate crime

You may be experiencing discrimination in your home or the neighbourhood where you live. A Hate Crime can involve a verbal assault, including online, a physical assault or be an incitement to hatred.

A hate crime is defined as “Any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person’s race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender.”

A hate incident is any incident which the victim, or anyone else, thinks is based on someone’s prejudice towards them because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or because they are transgender.

Evidence of the hate element is not a requirement. You do not need to personally perceive the incident to be hate related. It would be enough if another person, a witness or even a police officer thought that the incident was hate related.

It is preferable that you report any concerns you have to Thames Valley Police who can investigate, however if the matter involves a neighbour you may also want to raise it with the Antisocial Behaviour Team as well at asb.team@reading.gov.uk.

For more information about what to do if you believe you are a victim of a hate crime you can go to:

What is a hate crime? Thames Valley Police